Israeli Soldier Barred From Temple Mount After Waving Flag, Group Says Due Process Was Denied

A combat soldier serving in southern Lebanon was barred from the Temple Mount for two months after waving an Israeli flag there. The soldier, who is in regular service and is currently fighting in Lebanon, is represented by the legal aid group Honenu.

According to the soldier and Honenu, the police imposed the ban without a hearing, even though he had warned in advance that he was being called up for operational duty in Lebanon and had asked to postpone the hearing. The incident began about two weeks ago, when he waved the flag on the Temple Mount and was then summoned to a hearing on the grounds that his presence there raised concerns about public safety.

The soldier says he contacted police before entering the fighting and was told a new hearing date could be arranged after he returned from the front. When Honenu lawyers asked for the investigation materials and reports, police initially said he had not contacted them about going into combat and therefore was not entitled to a delay.

Honenu says its lawyers then presented records and phone logs showing that the soldier had in fact spoken with police and informed them he was entering operations in Lebanon. After that, the group says, police changed their position and argued that the order was issued because he had not proposed an alternate hearing date during the call. Honenu said the case should be reviewed, a proper hearing should be held, and the exclusion order revoked.